The Meaning of misebirakasu [見せびらかす] In Japanese

見せびらかす
みせびらかす
Romaji: misebirakasu N4

What does 見せびらかす mean?

Translation and Meaning

to show off, to flaunt

Definition

What does 見せびらかす mean? It means to show off something ostentatiously, often to flaunt wealth or status in public. The core concept is turning visibility into a display intended to attract attention, sometimes with a negative or critical nuance.

Type

verb (godan) (五段動詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • To display something ostentatiously to attract attention or admiration.
  • To provoke envy or admiration by making possessions visible.
  • Casual usage to criticize someone who ostentatiously shows off their status or abilities.

Composition

  • 見: see/visible; せ: from 見せる forming the verb part meaning to show;
  • びらかす: to flaunt or display ostentiously; combined, they mean to make something seen in a way that highlights it for others.

Usage

Used in casual speech and media with a pejorative nuance to describe someone who draws attention to possessions or abilities; common contexts include social media posts, gossip, and character description in narratives; typical constructions include 見せびらかす with を or ている; examples: 彼は新車を見せびらかす; 彼女は高価なバッグを見せびらかしている.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: see + braggadocio — imagine a flashy billboard that says See Me, and then the person loudly displays their goods; link 見 with びらかす to remember the idea of showing off.

Variations

  • 見せつける (misetsukeru) — to show off directly
  • 自慢する (jiman suru) — to boast or brag about oneself
  • ひけらかす (hikerakasu) — to brag loudly or trumpet one’s possessions
見せびらかす